Off kilter Off-Broadway, Part 1

Generalization warning: Theatre is ethereal, and its very impermanence draws audiences to little theatres in dark corners of the city, where they hope to witness a brief moment of artistic synergy. This season, non-profit theatres around town are churning out some great and not-so-great examples of small pieces with big themes. Here are some from last week:

Iphighenia 2.0 HIPSTER FRIENDLY SCHOLAR FRIENDLY
Welcome Charles L. Mee to your honored place in the New York theatre scene. Whether or not you find Chuck's disjointed constructions and pastiched dialogue to be exciting or excremental, I am thrilled to see Signature Theatre devoting part of their season to this historian-turned-playwright. The contemporary lens through which he views this crusty classic reveals the epic relevance of this tale of war's far-reaching effects. Director Tina Landau's ominous vision for the piece includes highly-charged movement and horrific sequences that don't always flow logically. For a shocking and disturbingly sexy look at the tragedy of war, visit Signature, and grab your $20 ticket today before it closes on October 7, 2007.

100 Saints You Should Know
Playwright Kate Fodor undercuts a few expectations about organized religion and its failure to soothe today's troubled souls in her first production at Playwrights Horizons. Thankfully a solid production rescues this predictable and emotionally manipulative story (yes, I felt a warmth during the mother-daughter resolution) from movie of thhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gife week status. And don't miss the stalwart Lois Smith in yet another engrossing performance. This one just closed, but visit Playwrights Horizons for more info on the rest of their season.

The Misanthrope HIPSTER FRIENDLY SCHOLAR FRIENDLY
Ivan van Hove is one of those directors who finds a dominant visual motif in the classical work he's adapting, and by the end of the production, his actors are literally dripping with or rolling in it (Search for pig's blood and Hedda). With one hell of a cohesive vision of a world morally adrift, plenty of sexy technological tricks and the best ensemble off Broadway, this production overcomes the weak adaptation of Moliere's masterpiece and gaping wholes in both our own souls and the storytelling. Be prepared for a strong smell if you take a front row seat, and do it soon; this show leaves New York Theatre Workshop's stage on November 11, 2007.

Next up... Dividing the Estate at Primary Stages and Night Over Taos from INTAR.

Passionate Work

Why do actors, writers, directors and others, like dramaturgs, pursue a career in the low-paid, high-pressure world of theatre? The hottie from your freshman orientation can only get you to the intro acting class, but what keeps you slaving in the field is passion for the work, for storytelling that uniquely captures one's imagination. It's that need to create something new every night and to tell stories that are important. Vague? Well, here are two shows in the early stages of development that demonstrate this illogical pursuit:

Thorny Bushes: the Telenovela series at INTAR (HIPSTER FRIENDLY)
What's your guilty escapist pleasure? For many, it is the soap opera, and especially the big-haired, puckered-lipped, muscle-bound telenovelas. INTAR's Playwrights' and Actors' Collectives bring that highly successful melodramatic form to American audiences with Thorny Bushes. In the capable hands of young director Alex Correia, the family saga was read informally as a radio play to a packed D-Lounge audience in August. No word yet on the next episodes, but check INTAR's website for more.

Funeralogues (HIPSTER FRIENDLY)
Another startling, and completely different example, of passion was recently exhibited by improvisor/producer Stacy Mayer in her expanded sketched, Funeralogues. A self-professed funeral lover, Mayer's enthusiasm for the topic and men in uniform make this one-hour tryout fly by. This piece is still in development, but see her My Space page for updates, and also visit Katherine and Friends, who produce the first-look series that featured Funeralogues; they have some cool projects in the works.

Just missed these summer shows…

Here are a couple of plays that have recently closed, but they made the dull, hot summer just a little brighter:

Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice
I love this writer – the way she arranges words on a page always seems to blow my mind. Her plays are smart, well-formed, magical and downright funny. Eurydice, based on the Greek myth, is no exception – even though it’s a tragic tale about a pair of lovers torn apart…twice. This production is a little on-the-nose as far as interpretation and stagecraft goes, but Maria Dizzia in the title role makes it a little more palatable. Visit http://www.2st.com for more details about this production and Sarah Ruhl.

Betty Shamieh’s The Black Eyed
In the past couple of years, I’ve been lucky enough to work with the Arab American Comedy Festival folks and NIBRAS, and I have to admit, that I’m really glad to hear a strong Arab voice on one of New York’s hottest stages. Shamieh’s latest play, The Black Eyed, traps four contemporary and historical Palestinian women in heaven, but the pink waiting room where they contemplate martyrdom and accountability sounds like hell to me. And if it weren’t for solid performances by these emerging actresses, I would have tried to find the exit. See http://nytw.org for more information and for tickets.

Grab your seats!

The new season is well under way, and I'm back to tell you what's worth your $100 bucks a pop and what's not. Got a special request? What are you curious about? Off-Broadway? Broadway? Burlesque? I'm happy to follow check them out for you and offer an opinion before you spend the dough.

I'm looking forward to another exciting theatre season for 2007 and 2008. I'm most excited about In the Heights and Young Frankenstein on Broadway, and off Broadway there's so many great writers popping up, it's almost too much for one person to handle. Let me help you navigate through the hype. Stay tuned for regular updates.

Summer Play Festival at Theatre Row

When producer Ariel Tepper started the Summer Play Festival (SPF) a few years ago, she committed herself to presenting the work of great emerging writers. The plays may not always be as good as Arthur Miller’s masterpieces, but like him, these are writers to whom attention must be paid. This year is no exception. I’ll be seeing a few of the offerings by writers that I particularly admire and sharing why I think they’re important. Don’t look for reviews in the papers because these plays are not up for review. So pony up $10 for a ticket, and head over to Theatre Row on 42nd Street and 9th Ave for a little free air conditioning at SPF; see www.spfnyc.com for a full line-up. And let me know what you’re seeing there or at other summer theatre festivals.

My Wandering Boy by Julie Marie Myatt
Week One offered many plays of note, especially Beau Willimon’s Lower Ninth, but I chose to check out Myatt’s latest. This is a delicate play about those left behind, and though we never meet the lost soul of the title, Myatt’s deliciously detailed dialogue makes us feel like we have. Her characters – from the parents to the girlfriends to the private eye to the bum on the street – fill in one or two parts of the puzzle for us, but never give away the mystery that lies at the heart of the play.
Julie is represented by Brett Adams, Ltd.; also see her short play The Joy of Having a Body and full-length, Alice in the Badlands.

Half of Plenty by Lisa Dillman
Week Two, I saw Half of Plenty, which covers a lot of familiar and disturbing themes in America. In this ultra-relevant play, anti-Arab sentiment, borderline unlawful surveillance and a troubling economy feed the growing discontentment of two 30-somethings who discover that their lives and parents didn’t quite turn out the way they expected. Dillman presents a strong argument against alarmist behavior and prejudice through her pensive protagonist, but the production doesn’t quite help us understand how our protagonist wound up in her tough spot in the first place.
Also see Lisa’s play, Rock Shore; she is represented by Robert Freeman, Ltd.

Week Three: Missed it...

Not Waving by Ellen Melaver
During Week Four of SPF I wanted to go to the beach, not the theatre, but at least I could experience the loud skate kids, controlling mothers in muumuus and even loud snorers (thanks to the guy behind me) without the sunburn and sand flies. In Not Waving, three pairs of beachcombers come to their own personal crises at the sandy site of a recent tragedy; they’re all a bit miserable, and some of them were even having what one character calls “the worst day” of his life, but a pretty solid production keeps this play from drowning in a sea of sentimentality.
Watch for it Off-Broadway next season. Ellen is represented by the Gersh Agency.

Congratulations to the Summer Play Festival for once again giving some great writers and their plays a chance to be seen and heard. After a whirlwind of new work, this industrious crew of creatives is already accepting submissions for next year!

SPIEGELTENT: Fun in the big mirror-filled tent

Cabaret is making a comeback in New York City, and the South Street Seaport’s Spiegeltent, “the world’s most beautiful traveling venue,” is providing two great examples of this increasingly popular form. Join the good carny fun almost every night and follow up the show with hot music by the Vintage DJ and Badly Drawn Boy. Head down to the Pier for dinner, dancing, a show and pretty people all hiding behind a bamboo fence. For a complete listing of events, visit www.spiegelworld.com. Super HIPSTER FRIENDLY!

Absinthe -- Rating: 3 hearts
More tame than what you’ll catch at The Box, but still full of spicy surprises, Absinthe returns to Spiegeltent with a whole new set of acts and a new emcee. Unlike last year’s sultry chanteuse who lured you into a sexy stew of your freak-show favorites, this year’s emcee “drags” you from one musical style to another, including a moving rendition of Judy Garland’s “The Man Who Got Away.” Those afraid of audience participation should not sit in the front row or on an aisle.

UPDATE: Highline sensation and sexy chantuse Meow Meow will be filling in as emcee for the next week or two. Check her out!

La Vie -- Rating: 2 hearts
Remember that old TV show, “This is Your Life?” Now picture it taking place in Hell/Limbo/Purgatory and hosted by a multi-talented Frenchman! And the guests on the show are so much cooler than you because they’re contorting their nimble bodies, swinging from trapezes and juggling things.

What are some of your favorite hot spots around town for Cabaret? The Box? The Slipper Room?

Broadway Musicals: Recent Comedies

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee . . . . . Avenue Q . . . . Hairspray
I love these musicals. They carry on the grand tradition of the Broadway Musical Comedy before the 2006-2007 season shocked everybody with German expressionism and kooky cat ladies. See Spicy Season for the lowdown on this past season’s Broadway Musicals for more information. In the meantime, read all about these semi-long runners that continue to delight audiences and shock them (a little).

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee -- Rating: 2 hearts; HIPSTER FRIENDLY
Much like the documentary Spellbound¸ this hilarious musical focuses on the contestants, or the semi-tortured children who make their way through a minefield of parental missed opportunities, personal neuroses and the pitfalls of adolescence on their way to spelling stardom. Be prepared for political quips and naughty word play. Adventurous souls can also become one of the guest spellers and sit on stage with the actors.
The spelling began on May 2, 2005 at the Circle in the Square Theatre, and it was nominated for six 2005 Tony Awards, winning two. For up to date casting information, visit www.spellingbeethemusical.com.


Avenue Q -- Rating: 3 hearts; HIPSTER FAVORITE
I saw this gem of a musical when it first opened at the Vineyard Theatre downtown, and I must admit that I loved how it was all about perverted puppets. My friends and I were delighted to see a musical that spoke to our fears about settling in to the big city and new romances, our inability to always be politically correct and our secret desires to have Bert and Ernie come out of Sesame Street’s closet. After its transfer to Broadway, Avenue Q won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Musical and brought its creative team to instant prominence. This show is a blast!
It moved onto Broadway on July 31, 2003 at the Golden Theatre. For the most recent casting news, visit www.avenueq.com.

Hairspray -- Rating: 3 hearts; HIPSTER FRIENDLY
Yes, the new movie of the John Watters adaptation from the original movie is in theatres now, but if you haven’t seen it live – go! Like Rent, Hairspray brings in a rotating replacement cast from American Idol and the like to keep young audiences hooked. I personally found the energetic blend of dynamic music and campy good fun too much to resist.
Hairspray came onto the Broadway scene on August 15, 2002 and won the 2003 Tony Award for Best Musical. See who’s in the cast now at www.hairspraythemusical.com.

Most people in the 20-30 range get a kick out of these shows. Which one sounds good to you?

Broadway Musicals: Recent Hits

The Drowsy Chaperone . . . . . Jersey Boys . . . . . The Color Purple . . . . . Tarzan
These are the hot shows that either won a Tony or were runners up in the competition. They’re still running and bringing in audiences. Here’s a few reasons why:

The Drowsy Chaperone -- Rating: 3 hearts; MOM FRIENDLY
It’s a frothy love letter to Broadway told by a man in a long-ish cardigan who sits in a winged chair near the front of the stage. As he reflects on his favorite Broadway musical of the same name, his Upper East Side flat transforms into the world of the play. Suddenly he is dancing among the chorus girls and hunky leading men in a story about a Broadway starlet who intends to leave the stage for true love. Ingenious stagecraft and dynamite performances make this a great choice for those visiting relatives.
* Opened at the Marquis Theatre on May 1, 2006, and nominated for 13 2006 Tony Awards. For the latest casting information, visit http://www.drowsychaperone.com.


Jersey Boys -- Rating: 2 hearts; MOM FRIENDLY, but watch out for the F-bomb
This Tony Award-winning tuner is a real crowd pleaser. Even if, like me, you’re not familiar with all that the Four Seasons sang during their time together, you’ll still enjoy how the show tells the story of the group’s evolution from trouble-making Jersey Boys to music legends. By the end, my cynical downtown friends and I were dancing with the middle-aged couples who drove in from Jersey. Oh What a Night!
* Opened at the August Wilson Theatre on November 6, 2005; 2006 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical. For the latest casting information, visit http://www.jerseyboysinfo.com/broadway.


The Color Purple -- Rating: 3 hearts; MOM FRIENDLY
The theme song from this show will stick in your head for weeks – and come back to haunt you every time you see the title – at least it does for me. Like the Whoopi Goldberg film and Alice Walker’s beloved novel that provided the source material before it, this musical tells the classic tale of the triumph of the human spirit. But don’t expect the gritty reality of the film, and be prepared for abstract sets and dream sequences. This is a musical adaptation, complete with some of the most uplifting music on Broadway.
* Opened at the Broadway Theatre on November 1, 2005, and nominated for ten 2006 Tony Awards. For the latest casting information, visit http://www.colorpurple.com.

**CLOSED**
Tarzan -- Rating: 2 hearts; KID FRIENDLY
This show has one of the coolest opening sequences I have ever seen on a Broadway stage. Like other Disney adaptations of their animated features, this one takes the now-classic songs from the movie and retools them for Broadway.
* Opened May 10, 2006 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Nominated for a 2006 Tony Award. For the latest casting information, visit http://disney.go.com/theatre/tarzan/index2.html.

Broadway Musicals: Long-Running Classics

Mamma Mia! . . . . . Chicago . . . . . A Chorus Line . . . . . Les Misérables . . . . . The Phantom of the Opera
They’ll have their names carved in the sidewalk before they’re through, if they don't already. These are the enduring shows that broke box office records and changed the way people thought about musicals. Some are a little hokey, some are dated, some closed and came back to Broadway, but they’re all classics in the Musical Theatre. Here’s why:

Mamma Mia! -- Rating: 2 hearts
One of the first of what we call “Jukebox musicals”, this Abba fueled tuner is slim on the story, loosely based around a former hippy whose daughter wants her unknown father to walk her down the aisle. But this show is so full of energy, show-stopping numbers and sight gags that even the snobbiest of theatre-goers can’t help humming along to “Dancing Queen” by the end. After 9/11, it offered the escape New Yorkers needed to bounce back from the devastation.
* Mamma Mia! opened at the Cadillac Winter Garden Theatre on October 5, 2001. Nominated for five 2002 Tony Awards, the show has gone to productions all over the world. For up-to-date information on the Broadway cast, visit http://www.mamma-mia.com.

Chicago -- Rating: 3 hearts; HIPSTER FRIENDLY
One sexy “skin” musical. That’s what one of my former professors calls this sexy sub-genre of musical theatre that features the killer legs, provocative dances and spicy songs that you know from the movie starring Catherine Zeta Jones and Queen Latifah. But seeing this story come alive in front of you with a rotating cast of some of the hottest performers, including Usher last year, is an opportunity not to be missed. Chicago recently celebrated its 10th anniversary on Broadway. See how good it still looks!
* It opened November 14, 1996 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre before moving to the Shubert Theatre and finally settling in at the Ambassador Theatre. Check out the rotating cast at http://www.chicagothemusical.com.

A Chorus Line -- Rating: 2 hearts
It’s hard not to love the simple set up of this dance-loving musical. Show business is hard, and these characters prove it with their heart-breaking speeches, unbelievable dancing and compelling songs. These diverse characters and their stories about making it on Broadway offer something for everyone from the young and idealistic to the jaded among us. Once the longest running-musical on Broadway, A Chorus Line closed after almost 15 years on Broadway in 1990 and returned this season in an almost identical production.
* It reopened on October 5, 2006 at the Schoenfeld Theatre and was nominated for two 2007 Tony Awards. For more information about this historic show, visit http://www.achorusline.com.

Les Misérables -- Rating: 3 hearts; MOM FRIENDLY
It’s easy to see why this show was such a long-running hit and why it still appeals today: the music is incredibly moving; the struggle of the downtrodden in the face of injustice is dramatic; the sets are ginormous, and they move; there are gun battles; the lovers are appropriately attractive; and the names are French. Like A Chorus Line, “Les Mis” closed not so long ago and came back last season with a cast of Broadway favorites and a lot of buzz about the whether this was indeed a revival or simply a remounting of the original conception.
* It reopened on November 9, 2006 at the Broadhurst Theatre. For more information about this show and its history, visit http://www.lesmis.com.

The Phantom of the Opera -- Rating: 3 hearts; MOM FRIENDLY
Ah, Phantom, for which countless high school choir students from around the country put on their Sunday best and clutter up the 44th Street sidewalk around 7 pm nearly every day. If you’ve never seen this Andrew Lloyd Weber spectacular, you’re missing an integral part of musical theatre history as well as a lesson in how to incorporate synthesizer music into your love ballads. There are some incredibly beautiful musical moments in this, the longest-running Broadway musical. The classic love story also features some fantastic bits of stagecraft that will have your family marveling about how they put it all onstage.
* Phantom began its reign on January 26, 1988 at the Majestic Theatre. For more information on this historic event, visit http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com.

For most of us, Phantom or Les Mis are the first musicals we've seen. Which one of these musicals was your "first"?

A Note about the Mini Reviews

Although I've served as a critic and consultant and have worked with a couple of really great theatre critics, what I offer in this blog are not theatre reviews. They are appetizers to entice you to the theatre. My aim is to mention something about each production that make you want to come to the theatre -- that's it's not just for your Aunt Midge from Arizona who sees a Broadway show each time she visits New York.

I've come to love New York theatre -- on, Off- and way Off-Broadway -- because even in the biggest and brassiest productions, I can find a character, a story element or a song that reveals a new aspect of human nature. I invite you to do the same with these reviews. When something peaks your interest, let me know. I want to help you find your way through the intimidating maze that is New York Theatre.

WELCOME TO DRAMATIC DATING

Would you like to take someone out to the theatre for a glitzy Broadway show or an edgy downtown performance art piece, but you have no idea where to go? Let me help you. I've been working in theatre for almost ten years now, and I have access to all the information you need to impress an important date or out-of-town relatives. I can work within any budget to create a great evening that takes advantage of New York City's diverse performing arts scene.

I am currently creating the entries for every play I have seen over the course of my time in the city -- mostly the ones that are still open. Theatre is an ethereal form: one day the hottest play is packing them in; the next day, producers post a closing notice. For that reason, I'll be sure to list the closing dates as well as a rating to determine what kind of folks might enjoy it most.

But the most exciting aspect of this blog, I hope, will be how personalized it can be. Based on a quick evaluation, I can determine all I need to know in order to recommend exactly what you need, taking into consideration everything from how romantic you want the evening to be to how much you want to spend.

So check out my mini reviews as they become available. Then let me know what you have in mind for the perfect evening, and we'll start planning it together.